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Post by greenjello on Nov 15, 2017 14:52:19 GMT
Just wondering what the general consensus is on the Northkin Shaman? I've been looking him over and a few things stick out to me. I've yet to play with him, still painting, so this is all just theory.
First, he's a magical zot! which has been somewhat lacking previously for Trollbloods. True we have Janissa and Runeshapers, but he's another option.
Second, he's got some potential as a combat solo, with Frost Bite, and Battle Wizard, but this seems somewhat hampered by his MAT 6/Magic 6. I could definitely see charging a screening unit from the side, dropping a grunt, then spraying the rest of the unit. Frost Bite also works with the cold Stone's Winter Magic.
Third, he's got some an interesting debuff from Cold Snap which I could see being applied to a few members of a unit, or a caster. Immunity to cold is fairly rare, so that it's unlikely there will be a counter.
Finally freak storm adds some clouds to Trolls, which is unique in faction I believe. As such you can get a max of two, since FA two on the model, which isn't enough for a true cloud wall, but it's enough to provide some shooting protection, and improve the defense of our squishier casters.
Anything else I'm missing? Any interesting combos other people have come up with?
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Post by Trollock on Nov 15, 2017 15:18:03 GMT
I use him some times. When PoD was first released i used two all the time, but now it is often Janissa instead. My rule of thumb is that if i get three free things (in PoD) one of them will be whelps, one is most likely the runebearer and then i get one more. If the choice is janissa or shaman, then i usually go with janissa, BUT if i decide to pay for a 4th solo, i prefer two shamans rather than one janissa and a shaman.
In some lists i am planning on having a small cloud wall to help hide my kriel stone or caster, and then the shaman becomes more attractive.
As a stand alone "combat" solo i think i prefer Janissa. They both provide some protection against shooting, and a magical attack. The shaman has chiller to lower DEF and Janissa has tectonic shift to disengage stuff. They both have pathfinder and are roughly as survivable. but if i have two, the shaman becomes WAY more interesting since two clouds are way more than twice as good as one cloud.
Both solos have pathfinder to get to a flag if they need to, and both are easy enough to kill that they will die if the opponent wants it to happen. The shaman has a very high potential damage output thanks to a spray that COULD be "RAT" 7 and POW 14, but Janissa is more consistent with her base "RAT" of 8 and POW 14. With the right set up though, the shamans could do a LOT of work, at least one turn before they die.
In SotN the shaman has better support than in PoD, but he also has way stiffer competition. Most list will want a fell caller and a runebearer, and Valka and champ hero also compete for the same spot. The shaman is more uncommon for me there to be sure, even if he is better there than in PoD.
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Post by Big Fat Troll on Nov 15, 2017 22:12:16 GMT
I like them a lot and run them in pairs with Kolgrimma, Calandra, and Grim 1. Other casters sometimes get one. Kolgrimma likes a little help with her cloud wall, Calandra's rerolls and feat are great with sprays and Battle Wizard, and both are squishy and need extra CYA. Grim 1 has True Sight and can see through the clouds, which makes order-of-activations easier. He often runs a King and a cloud can overlap its base to make a nice little cubby hole for him to hide in, to prevent reprisal from something like a Seraph that might otherwise be able to shoot him even on his feat turn.
Regardless of synergies with specific casters, the Shaman is a pretty good flag camper, with his cloud shenanigans and Pathfinder. He is also helped greatly by the Northkin Elder, not only for his spray, but the difference between Spd 5 and Spd 6 is quite significant.
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A-Mo
Junior Strategist
Posts: 204 
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Post by A-Mo on Nov 17, 2017 16:25:09 GMT
He's great when he's free, but not so much when he costs 4 pts. I've found him to be terrible at objective running. He's either running, and is then easily killed, or he's clouding, and then toooooo sloooooooowwwwwww. I've gotten the best use out of them by protecting pieces that want to hang back, or using chiller to help counter an alpha.
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mattmcd
Junior Strategist
Posts: 521
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Post by mattmcd on Nov 17, 2017 19:45:20 GMT
His clouds can also help him be fast too ya know. He can drop cloud and then place him forward into cover or concealment.
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A-Mo
Junior Strategist
Posts: 204
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Post by A-Mo on Nov 17, 2017 20:02:58 GMT
I wouldn't say it makes him faster. Its basically running and farting out a cloud in the middle. I've used this strategy to layer models while jamming, but that's about it.
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joedj
Junior Strategist
Posts: 513
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Post by joedj on Nov 18, 2017 17:47:08 GMT
The allowance of Minion unit to Themes have removed the NK Shaman from all of my lists. A 2pt unit of Swamp Gobbers provide a larger cloud, faster running, UNIT to go for a zone. I agree with free solos priority: Runebearer, Whelps, Janissa, usually though different with BoH. It remains to be seen if the NK Shaman will make it into my SotN lists. Maybe for fun, fluffy ones. Right now it appears the Shaman's early release in MK3 perhaps did not provide him a long term compelling role in the TB army. CID to enable him, perhaps to give out magical weapon?, or +3 STR to target Skinner?  |
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Post by Trollock on Nov 18, 2017 21:21:05 GMT
Right now it appears the Shaman's early release in MK3 perhaps did not provide him a long term compelling role in the TB army. CID to enable him, perhaps to give out magical weapon?, or +3 STR to target Skinner? And force you to play out of theme for the skinner bonus? That is a trap!  |
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